Don Cherry sparks online backlash for comments on immigrants, Remembrance Day
Hockey Night personality complains about new Toronto citizens not wearing poppies
Don Cherry is in the limelight yet again, this time for complaining that he rarely sees people he believes to be new immigrants wearing poppies ahead of Remembrance Day.
The 85-year-old Hockey Night in Canada personality said on Saturday on his weekly Coach's Corner segment that he's less frequently seeing people wearing poppies anymore to honour fallen Canadian soldiers, and he singled out those he believes are immigrants in Toronto, prompting a swift online backlash.
"You people … you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple bucks for a poppy or something like that," Cherry said. "These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada, these guys paid the biggest price."
Watch: Don Cherry in hot water over comments on Coach's Corner:
Sportsnet tweeted a statement on Sunday morning:
Statement from Sportsnet: <a href="https://t.co/QZ76r9Y7sb">pic.twitter.com/QZ76r9Y7sb</a>
—@SportsnetPRAmong the online responses was one from Paula Simons, an independent senator from Alberta.
Attention <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachsCornerDC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachsCornerDC</a>, Don Cherry. (Photo:<a href="https://twitter.com/HkyNightPunjabi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HkyNightPunjabi</a>) <a href="https://t.co/y9fTDPjtIQ">pic.twitter.com/y9fTDPjtIQ</a>
—@SimonDingleyCBCCherry made his comment prior to running his annual Remembrance Day video montage, where he is seen walking through a military cemetery in France visiting the graves of Canadian soldiers who went to battle in the First World War.
Poppies are sold every year starting on the last Friday in October until Remembrance Day on Nov. 11 by The Royal Canadian Legion to raise money in support of veterans and their families.
For <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachsCornerDC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachsCornerDC</a> to say that “you people” do not respect 🇨🇦 or our veterans is despicable. We’re proud of diverse cultural heritage and we‘ll always stand up for it. New immigrants enrich our country for the better. We’re all Canadians and wear our poppies proudly.
—@BonnieCrombie